Liquid -Stila - Illuminating Liquid Foundation
chaeriste 4/13/2009 12:50:00 PM
Don't like it. Tried it for a week and while I like the feel of it, it was just too yellow and too sparkly. It's going back.
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Powders -Smashbox - Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder
chaeriste 4/9/2009 3:44:00 PM
My skin is superdry. I needed a new foundation and went to Sephora for a consult. The SA rec'd this powder and I bought it. I used it twice and put it back in the bag. It's going back to the store. It's ok, but for $59, it had better clean my house. I went back to L'Oreal Translucide because, for $10, it's powder and that's all it needs to be.
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Crème -L'Oreal - True Match Super Blendable Compact Makeup
chaeriste 2/4/2009 2:02:00 PM
I loved True Match liquid. I got suckered into the Mineral Makeup hype and started using that, but my skin is too dry and looked really old (I'm 38). So, I went back to True Match, buying the liquid, compact and powder. Love them all, but this one takes the cake. Very blendable, buildable, melts into my skin. I use W1, and I am between 1 and 2. I mix the liquid to match perfectly, but no problems here. I use Bare Escentuals Prime Time primer underneath this and it glides on. I set it with True Match powder in W1. Perfect. Love it, so glad they make it, couldn't live without it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream
chaeriste 5/26/2008 9:22:00 AM
I'm 37... let's just get that out there right away. I've always had very dry skin.I was the girl in High School who didn't get acne and everyone hated me. Well, I also had wrinkles at 19. Imagine how my skin is now. However, this cream has worked wonders. I use it at night only, as I use a moisturizer with sunscreen in the AM (over my Regenerist serum) and I love it. My skin doesn't feel parched or oily, just smooth and quenched. I don't mind the price, as it lasts me months and I generally buy it on sale or with an Ulta coupon. I don't notice the sparkles and who cares?
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Bare Escentuals - Ripe Fig
chaeriste 5/16/2008 9:43:00 AM
I got this l/s as part of the BE Platinum kit, and I ignored it for awhile. I have my favorites. But I started playing with this, and now I grab for it again and again. It's my lips but better, very neutral (so I can wear with warm or cool colors), and takes to just about any gloss I slap over it. Lasts well (I'm a lip licker), wears evenly. I love it. I have two other colors in the 100% natural lipstick line: Berry Glacé and Truffle, which came in the gold kit.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals #1
chaeriste 1/18/2008 2:44:00 PM
OK, I always scoffed at BE-addicts... I tried BE years ago and HATED IT. HATED IT. I was a liquid foundation girl and happy happy. But... my best friend wore BE, her skin is sooo sensitive, so I bought the Diamond color kit. A month later, the Platinum kit. Now, I'm all BE. Foundation to lips. I went to a BE boutique and had them color-match me with Fair, which doesn't surprise me. I use 'Well Rested' as a concealer around my eyes b/c Bisque is too orange, too something. I have tattoos over my eyebrows (don't ever do this) that I can easily cover with a 2nd app of foundation, then min veil all over. The ONLY caveat is... my skin is uberdry. Like Scary monsters dry. While this foundation stays put and looks great all day, I have to moisturize like mad to keep my skin from flipping out. Currently, I'm using the Plantidote line from Origins, then I put Aveeno SPF 30 on over that... then Smashbox primer... THEN BE. I know. A lot of trouble... But I like it. And, toss that friggin' 'Flawless Application Brush' down the disposal. What garbage. I use either Soft Focus Face or Heavenly Face to put this on, and a kabuki for the Min Veil. There you go. UPDATE 2/24/08: had to stop using BE foundation, made me itch. Switched to Everyday Minerals Fairly Light Neutral Semi-Mate with Intense Fair concealer and Silk Dust finishing powder. Oh, well.
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Treatments -Sally Hansen - Complete Care 4-in-1 Treatment
chaeriste 6/25/2007 8:40:00 AM
If I just said 'trust me, go get this, you will NOT be sorry', you should believe me. But, you wont, so fine... here's my story. My nails were destroyed after having gel nails removed (I had them applied for my wedding... stupid me)... nothing helped. I asked a friend (and product junkie like me) to take me to Ulta to get Nailtiques and she pulled THIS gem out of her purse... she carries it with her always, and now so do I. And so should you. This stuff will cure your nail problems. I want to start a church to worship this product. This change my nails in ONE WEEK of applying 1 coat every other day. This does not peel if you do this. It doesn't dry in a flash, true... but the shine is incredible and the strength... I want to marry this product. This little blue bottle of wonderment. For $12, you get more than twice the amount of Nailtiques and this actually works. You can feel it penetrating your nails. I am HARD on my hands...typing all day, constantly having my hands in water. My nails are long, strong and feel healthy for the first time in ages. I am so thrilled and I convert everyone who says 'my nails don't grow'. Sally Hansen should rename this stuff after me. So... GO GET IT!!!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -BeneFit Cosmetics - Eye Bright
chaeriste 6/22/2007 8:59:00 AM
I have the WORST dark circles ever... zombie, indeed. I swapped for this to do the 'highlight your tear duct' thing and it worked for that... but I keep watching "What Not To Wear" and the MA always uses this under the eyes. So I tried it. WOW. I've been using Kevyn Aucoin's SSE concealer for ages and it worked, but this makes me look so awake, so bright-eyed. I'm shocked every time I look in the mirror. People who would see me and say 'you look tired' don't say that anymore. I use it like this: after foundation, I draw the crayon onto my fingertip... this warms it up, and then I patpatpat onto the dark area under my eyes and inner corners. Then I set it w/loose powder (currently using Cornsilk and YOU SHOULD, TOO), and off I go. Yeah, it's slightly expensive for what it is, but I've only sharpened it twice and I use the L'Oreal dual sharpener I've had for ages and it works just fine. Just don't shove the pencil into the sharpener and only give it one or two turns, you'll be fine. I will definitely repurchase, unless I can find a similar product for less money.
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Frost Lipstick in O
chaeriste 6/4/2007 10:19:00 AM
I recently fell in love w/this lippie again. I dab it on lightly, then top it w/whatever lipgloss tickles my fancy... Viva Glam V or VI, Love Nectar Lustreglass or Corps de Ballet. It's good for day, night, whatever. Just suits me. I am extremely pale (L'Oreal N2), but this warms me up just right. I'm never without it. My husband laughed when I told him the name... 'Is it supposed to give you an "O" when you wear it?'... I said 'no, it's supposed to make you LOOK like you've HAD one...' and he just shook his head. Boys don't get it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -RoC - Retinol Correxion Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Care - Night
chaeriste 4/12/2007 1:23:00 PM
I have to agree about the smell... Icky poo. And, for the first time in my life, my skin is sensitive to Retinol. Fine... I've been using it up on my hands at night, smoothing it on and then putting Aquaphor ointment over that and it's helping the dryness immensely. So, if you can't abide the smell, try to use it up this way. Won't repurchase, going back to Olay Regenerist.
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Lip Gloss -Aveda - Lip Glaze in Wineberry
chaeriste 11/6/2006 9:38:00 AM
I was looking to replenish my Pomegranate Juice, when I saw this. I like it much better... much more wearable, less purple. I use it over Zingiber or Wild Plum and get a great lip. I love these glosses. I have so many!
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Mascara -L'Oreal - Volume Shocking Mascara [DISCONTINUED]
chaeriste 7/24/2006 1:01:00 PM
I am a long-time loyal fan of L'Oreal mascaras... have used them for years. I wanted to love this mascara, but foo. It's terrible. First, the package is terrible to hold, very unwieldy. Second, the mascara itself is terrible. AWFUL. I use Double Extend almost every day b/c I'm a hoochie and love big lashes. I thought this would be even better, but no. Wet and clumpy and ucky and they should be ashamed of themselves for showing the lovely lashes in the commercial. I'm throwing it away.
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Polishes -OPI - You Rock-Apulco Red
chaeriste 7/5/2006 4:26:00 PM
I'm old...in the late 80's, early 90's, there was an OPI color called Fire Island or something like that... it was a bright pink-toned red w/lots of shimmer that I LOVED and COVETED and wore all the time... so much so that I carried it around with me like a teddy bear. In my purse. I was 19. You can guess what happened. I broke it IN MY PURSE. So... I've been searching high/low for a replacement. Deer Valley Spice was OPI's recommendation a while back, but it wasn't IT. THIS IS IT, girls. FABULOUS. I love it. I'm buying another one and packing it in bubble wrap.
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Eye Shadow -Aveda - Eye Shadow
chaeriste 6/26/2006 11:29:00 AM
My best friend in college started working in an Aveda salon and I got hooked on this stuff WAY back... remember the heavy gold ridged clamshell case??? The one that held either 1 powder, 4 shadows, 2 blushes or a blush and two shadows... with the black surround to the pan?!?!? Aieee... Well, I've returned to the land of Aveda, mostly b/c I can't deal with the clutter of other lines... so many little, individual pots! Uck! I find that between Aveda and Trish McEvoy, I have a nice little collection in a small space... Aveda is a close cousin, size-wise, to TM's pans, and I find the quality comparable. They stay on all day (I do use an E/S base... L'Oreal's Air Wear concealer in Brightener is the best), go one subtle or dramatic, take to water very well (i.e. I can use them wet for liner). What I like best is that I can see all of my colors at once (or, at least flip from page to page) and then assemble my LOTD to carry around. Pricey? Sure. Hard to find? Somewhat. But I have tons and I love them. So there.
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Lip Gloss -Joey New York - Collagen Boosting Lip Gloss Duo
chaeriste 6/15/2006 12:25:00 PM
I bought this b/c I LOVED the color and thought it felt fine, texture-wise. What I don't love about this is the total lack of staying power... slides right off and it's gone. I hve to use a clear lipliner to keep this on my mouth for more than an hour. Kind of missing the point of a colored L/G. I still do love the color, but now I wear it over liner. Smell/taste isn't great, but I'm used to lip products either being minty, fruity or non-scented at all. Eh. Too much money for too much work. Will not repurchase, will try to find similar colors elsewhere.
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